896/​350

An important pink and blue Argyle diamond ring set with a radiant-cut natural fancy intense pink Argyle diamond weighing app. 0.71 ct. encircled by numerous natural fancy blue brilliant-cut diamonds weighing a total of app. 0.29 ct. and brilliant-cut diamonds weighing a total of app. 1.64 ct., mounted in 18 pink and white gold. Colour: River-Top Wesselton (E-F). Clarity: VVS-VS1. Inscription GIA 1182098093. New York, circa 2017.

Cut grade of white diamonds: Triple excellent-cut. Hearts and arrows. Accompanied by GIA coloured diamond report no. 1182098093. New York, 2017. Colour distribution: Even. Colour origin: Natural. Clarity: SI.

Natural pink diamonds are very rare. Only about 0.01 % of all diamonds are pink. Of those, about 90 % are mined in The Argyle mine in Kimberley, Western Australia, which is one of the largest diamond mines in the world. The mine opened in 1985 and has since then been the only reliable source for pink diamonds ranging in colour from rose-petal pink to deep blue-violet. No more than fifty diamonds weighing more than 0.50 ct. are mined in a year. Since the pink diamonds are so rare, they are highly sought after on the international diamond market, and the prices have shown a continual growth in value year over year. With the Argyle diamond mine's ore body depleting, and closure likely to occur by the end of this year, 90 % of the world's coloured diamond supply will cease to exist, and the industry is expecting their value to explode as a result.

Natural blue diamonds are extremely rare, and they present unique cutting challenges. The rough is usually asymmetrical, which can make it more difficult to determine how the stone should be cut and polished. Rough blue diamonds can also have colour zoning – areas that have more blue hue than others. Cutters want to get the best colour out of a diamond while retaining as much weight as possible, and colour zoning can make this balancing act extremely difficult.

Blue diamonds were first found in India and were brought to the West by gem dealer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in the 17th century. He sold a large blue diamond to King Louis XIV of France. Originally called the Tavernier Blue, this diamond was recut into the French Blue and became part of the French crown jewels. It was stolen when the crown jewels were looted in 1792 and subsequently recut to avoid detection. GIA research confirms earlier studies which indicate that the Hope diamond could have been recut from the French Blue. The diamond was eventually purchased by Henry Philip Hope in 1830 and has borne his name ever since. The Hope diamond has earned a reputation of being cursed. It is often associated with the deaths and difficult lives of some of its recent owners. In 1949 it was purchased by the American jeweller Harry Winston who donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

On 8 November 1958, Winston sent the precious stone via registered, First-Class mail in a wrapped brown paper bag, from New York City to the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The postage cost him $2.44, plus $142.85 for $1 million worth of insurance.

Condition

Condition report on request.

Payment is possible only by credit card in the salesroom or by bank transfer.

Additional Remarks

Payment is possible only by credit card in the salesroom or by bank transfer.

Auction

Jewellery, 17 September 2020

Category
Estimate

250,000–350,000 DKK

Sold

Price realised

250,000 DKK